Device for sterilizing medical instruments.



W. BOEHM. DEVIGE FOR STERILIZING MEDIGAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FIL ED MAY 15, 1913.

Patented Feb. 23. 1915.

HE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINLAIUN. u. c.

WILHELM BOEHM, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR STERILIZING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS.

manner.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 11915.

Application filed May 15, 1913. 'Serial No. 767,812.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LVVILHELM BoEHM,subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing at 106 Gitschinerstrasse, Berlin, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Sterilizing MedicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for sterilizing medical instruments,such as canulas and the like.

Hitherto canulas, when made of precious metals have been freed fromgerms by being subjected to glowing heat for a short time before beingused. Canulas and the like made of non-precious metals have had to beexposed to boiling heat for a long time. By means of the presentinvention such medical instrument, canulas and the like may be veryquickly sterilized by being exposed for example to the direct action ofa flame. For this purpose the instrument to be sterilized, such as acanula is placed in a receptacle, which is adapted thereto so thatpractically no air can be contained in it. Such a receptacle is heatedfor a short time, and in a few seconds a rapid and reliablesterilization is effected, such as has not been possible in the sametime hitherto. The heating may for example be efiected directly in aflame (gas flame or lucifer match flame, and in urgent cases in the ashof a lighted cigar) and for this purpose the receiver may be made ofsuitable glass, porcelain, steel, etc. As the receptacle itself iselectrically conductive, or is surrounded by an electric resistanceconductor, the heating may also be effected by electricity. Hereby thewell known and satis factory method of sterilization by the applicationof great heat, employed for instruments made of precious metals, canalso be employed for sensitive instruments such as canulas, etc., madeof non-precious metals. These receptacles need not of course surroundthe whole instrument, but only those parts of the same which must bemade actually sterile. In the case of canulas the receptacle istherefore in the form of a sleeve one end of which is closed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a device constructedin accordance with the invention, made of glass; Fig. 2 illustrates themanner of using the device; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showingthe device as made of metal, and Fig. 4 illustrates a modification.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the improved sterilizingreceptacle which, as above described, may be of glass, porce lain or anysuitable material and which is closed at one end and of such diameterthat it will fit closely about a canula or other small medicalinstrument G.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the receptacle A. is madeof metal of such character that the interior thereof will be heated tothe desired degree when a current of electricity is passed through thebody, the latter being represented as provided with suitable positiveand negative terminals for connection with a source of electric energy.

Instead of making the entire receptacle of metal, as shown in Fig. 3, anelectric resistance conductor B may, as shown in Fig. l, be woundthereon or embedded therein.

The manner of using and the advantages of a device such as hereindescribed will be readily understood from the foregoing description andthe drawing. The sterilizing receptacle effectually prevents oxidationof the canula during the sterilizing operation so that the instrumentmay be used without danger of infection. It will be seen that anydesired number of such devices may be carried in a small space andwhenever it is desired to sterilize a canula or other small instrumentthe device can be quickly applied and easily heated so that theinstrument will be thoroughly sterilized by dry heat.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. The herein described method of sterilizing by dry heat canulas orother small medical instruments, susceptible to oxidation, comprisingfitting about the body to be sterilized a casing or receptacle of suitable material which will prevent oxidation of the instrument while beingheated, and applying heat to the casing.

2. An appliance for use in sterilizing by dry heat canulas or othersmall medical instruments susceptible to oxidation, comprising atube-like receptacle or container closed at one end and adapted to fitclosely about the body to be treated to prevent oxidation of said bodyWhen it is subjected to heat.

3. An appliance for use in sterilizing by 5 dry heat canulas or othersmall medical instruments, susceptible to oxidation, comprising atube-like receptacle or'container, in-

cluding an electric resistance conductor,

adapted to fit closely about the body to be 10 treated, whereby theinterior of the receptacle may be quickly heated to sterilize theinstrument therein and oxidation of the lat ter will be prevented.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- 15 ing Witnesses.

W'ILHELM BOEHM. Witnesses:

HENRY HASPER, VVOLDEMAR HAUPT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. 0.

